JAMMU, Sep 20: Continuing its endeavour to present a theatre production every Sunday, Natrang staged the Hindi comedy play ‘Purvabhyaas’, written by Om Prakash and directed by Neeraj Kant, as part of its weekly theatre series ‘Sunday Theatre’.
‘Purvabhyaas’ is a satirical stage comedy set in a small town, revolving around two self-proclaimed healers—a boastful Hakim and a flamboyant professor of hypnosis—who are fierce rivals. The Hakim confidently promotes his so-called miraculous “Amar Bhaskar” powder, prescribing it for almost every ailment, ranging from the nervousness of a middle-aged woman to a farmer’s complaint that his cow has stopped eating grass and producing milk.
On the other hand, the hypnosis professor uses dramatic mind-control techniques during his sessions. He asks his patients to imagine dense forests, lions and elephants, but instead of providing relief, his methods leave them even more frightened. The contrasting approaches of the two characters create a series of humorous situations and entertaining exchanges.
The rivalry reaches its peak when both healers are called to treat a young boy who has mysteriously fainted at home. Rather than concentrating on the patient, the two engage in a ridiculous verbal battle, each attempting to establish the superiority of his own methods. The situation becomes increasingly chaotic as the parents watch helplessly while the two self-proclaimed experts eventually get involved in a physical confrontation.
The comedy takes an unexpected turn when the boy suddenly gets up and reveals the truth. He is perfectly healthy and had only been rehearsing for a theatre performance with the Natrang theatre group, where he is required to remain motionless on stage for two hours. The revelation exposes the exaggerated claims and inflated egos of both the Hakim and the Professor.
Through its humorous storyline, lively dialogues and comic situations, ‘Purvabhyaas’ presents a satirical commentary on quackery, blind faith and human weaknesses. The play also highlights how people can sometimes be misled by exaggerated claims and appearances, while encouraging audiences to look at such situations with greater awareness and humour.
The performance featured the participation of Pawan Verma, recipient of the J&K State Award and National Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, who delivered a notable performance. Other performers who contributed significantly to the production included Aryan Sharma, Kushal Bhat, Lal Mohd., Aadesh Dhar, Vanshika Slathia and Damini Thakur.
The lighting for the play was executed by Neeraj Kant, while the presentations were handled by Priyal Ashok Gupta. The show was coordinated by Mohd. Yaseen. Through its latest production, Natrang once again used comedy and satire to combine entertainment with a meaningful social message, continuing its weekly initiative of bringing live theatre to audiences in Jammu.